ESOCS Devotional 19 September 2023 – Envy Not Sinners
MEMORY VERSE: “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.” Proverbs 23:17
TEXT: LUKE 19:41-48 (KJV)
And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
45 And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;
46 Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.
47 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,
48 And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
The quest and desire to amass wealth, acquire powers and occupy powerful positions in society have pushed so many people into the act of evil and inhumane practices. These things are happening around us on daily basis, and we are seeing them.
Some of these people are family members, friends, colleagues and peers; we relate with some of them on daily basis and most times, we tend to become too concerned and worried about the goodies they enjoy Even when they are individuals walking in sin without any regret or remorse.
It is not ideal to be envious of any of these people who are not upright in their lives and dealings; it is never a good thing to do. They might be excelling in the evil they do today, and people might be celebrating and hailing them but that doesn’t mean that evil is not evil. No matter how society sees or tends to handle evil, it can never be addressed as good before the Almighty God, and the days of an evil one are numbered.
The end of days of an evil man is filled with pain, sorrow and destruction (Proverbs 14:12) – His ways are slippery and he shall be brought to judgement in due course.
- Have you been envying an evil man or a sinner? See that you do not do it henceforth. His end shall come someday and with pains and agony unless he repents.
- Oh Lord, give me the grace to be mindful of my thoughts, may I never nurse envy for any sinner or evil man around me.
FURTHER READING: Job 11:20; Psalm 37:1; Proverbs 3:31; Isaiah 3:11
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ESOCS Devotional 19 September 2023
